Lamp holder



Sept. 26, 1944.A A. H. LAIDIG LAMP HOLDER Filed Aug. 26. 1943 66x96, m'l ,////v/ u e c WITNESSE /1/ f /freaf L a diy 5% ATToR EY PatentedSept. 26, 1944 LAMP HOLDER Alfred H. Laidig, Bloomiield, N. J.,assigner-*to Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Company, EastPittsburgh, Pa., a corporation o! Pennsylvania Application August 26,1943, Serial No. 500,157

(Cl. 20o-122) 19 Claims.

My invention relates, generally, to lamp holders or sockets of the typecommonly used with double-ended electric discharge devices, such asiluorescent lamps, and, more particularly, to a lamp holder which isoperable to interrupt the energizing circuit of the lamp in response toan abnormal operating condition, such as results when a lamp becomesdeactivated, and fails to start upon repeated attempts effected bysuccessive operations of the starting circuit.

Repeated unsuccessful attempts of the lamp to start frequently resultsin overheating and consequent damage to the starting circuit, due to theexcessive ilow of current during the starting period, as compared to thenormal operating current of the lamp.

Therefore, the object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide alamp holder of the character described, which shall be of simple. anddurable construction, which may be economically manufactured, and whichshall function to automatically open the lamp circuit in response to anabnormal operating condition thereof.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide for protecting thestarting and operating circuit of an electric discharge device, byutilizing a holder for the device which shall function, in response toan abnormal operating condition, to positively interrupt the energizingcircuit of the device, and maintain the circuit in open condition untilthe cause of such abnormal condition has been remedied.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lamp holder of thecharacter described, which embodies a current responsive means operableto effect movement of one of the contact fingers of the holder out ofengagement with an associated contact pin of the lamp, to interrupt thelamp circuit in response to an abnormal operating condition.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lamp holder of thecharacter described, wherein provisionis made to automatically latch thedisengaged contact finger in its disengaged position, and effect therelease thereof to its normal operating position in response to apredetermined movement of the lamp within the holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder of the characterdescribed, wherein the movable contact finger is actuated out ofengagement with its associated contact pin of the lamp by means of athermal actuating device responsive to excessive lamp current.

These and other objects of my invention will are rotated into lockingposition within thev become more apparent from the following detaileddescription when read in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure l is a back view, in elevation and partly in section, of a lampholder and starter'socket with the back cover removed, embodying theprincipal features of one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, in section, of the lamp holder andsocket of Fig. 1, taken along lines II-ll thereof;

Fig. 3 is a back view, in elevation and partly in section, of a lampholder and starter socket of a different type, embodying the principalfeatures of another form of my invention; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the elements of the lamp holder intheir various positions, after the holder has functioned to interruptthe lamp circuit.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2,- the lamp holder shown comprises a shelltype housing I0 of insulating material, and a base member II which maybe a portion of a socket or adapter for the starting switch (not shown)which is usually a part of the starting and operating circuit of thelamp.

'Ihe housing I0 is provided on its front face with suitable slots toreceive the contact pins I2 and I3 of the lamp. In this instance, thereis provided an annular slot I4 merging into a straight slot I5,extending to the upper edge of the housing, as shown in dotted lines. Aguide stud I6 is disposed within the annular slot, and is also providedwith a straight slot I'I in alignment with the upper slot I5. By meansoi' this arrangement, the contact pins I2 and I3 may be insertedlaterally, through the slots I5 and I1,

and then rotated in the annular slot into engagement with the freecontact making ends of a pair of contact ngers I8 and I9 mounted withinthe housing, as shown.

As shown in Fig. 1, the contact ngers I8 and I9 are in the form ofelongated spring members positioned in the side recesses 2I and 22, sothat their free ends extend upwardly within the housing, in cooperatingrelation with the slots Il, I5, and I1. In this position, the free endsof the contact iingers engage the contact pins I2 and I3 of the lamp,and are forced apart as the pins holder.

The contact spring I8 is provided with -a bent mounting portion 23,secured to the housing by a screw 24 extending upwardly through anopening in the base member II, communicating with a recess 25. The shankor intermediate portion of ringer I8 engages an abutment 26 on theinside of the housing, which functions as a fulcrum for the finger.

The other cooperating contact finger I9 is so' constructed, and is somounted within the housing and asociated with other elements to bedescribed, that it also functions as a switch to interrupt the lampcircuit under certain operating conditions. In this instance, the fingerI9 is pivotally mounted for tilting movement toward and away from itsassociated contact pin I3. This nger is provided with a bent portionintermediate its ends, which engages an abutment 21 which functions as apivot or fulcrum for the finger.

In order to provide for retaining the movable finger I9 in a normaloperating position, as shown in -full lines, and for actuating it to adisengaged position, as shown in dotted lines, the lower end thereof isconnected to an actuating device in the form of a bimetallic member 28.This member is mounted within the housing and base on supporting blocksof insulating material 30 attached to the housing and base by screws 30'for movement between the two positions, as shown in full and dottedlines, and the lower end of the contact finger is connected thereto bymeans of hook members 29, engaging slots 3i in member 28. Any othersuitable connection may be used.

A heater 32 comprising a resistance wire 33, wound upon an insulatingmember 34, is mounted adjacent the bimetallic member 28 between thesupporting blocks 30 to cause it to function in a well known manner, toactuate the contact finger I9. The heater 32 is so constructed that,during normal operation of the lamp, the heat developed thereby will notbe sufficient to actuate the bimetallic member 28 from its normalposition, so that this member retains the lower end of the contactfinger I9 in a fixed position, such that the upper end of the fingerengages the lamp pin I3 with the proper amount of pressure. However, inthe event that the heater 32 is subjected to an abnormal current, suchas results when a lamp becomes deactivated, sufficient heat is developedto actuate the bimetallic member 28 to its dotted position, therebytilting the free end of the contact finger I9 away from the lamp pin I3,to instantly interrupt the lamp circuit.

The bimetallic member 28 and its associated heater 32 may be termed acurrent responsive or thermal actuating means for the contact finger.The advantage in using a thermal device of this kind is that itfunctions to give the finger a snap action to quickly break thecir-cuit. Any other suitable current responsive device may be utilizedto control the movement of the contact finger under abnormal operatingconditions.

In this instance, the heater 32 is connected in the circuit in serieswith the contact finger I9. The lower end of the resistance wire 33 isconnected to a terminal member 35 in the base II, and the upper end ofthe resistance wire is connected to a connector member 36, engaging thescrew 24.

The other contact finger I9 is connected in the lamp circuit by means ofthe terminal screw 39, which engages another connector member 3i, whichis connected to the lower end of the contact finger by means of aflexible wire 38. i

In order to provide for latching the movable contact finger I9 in itsopened position, a spring biased latching device 4I is provided. Thisdevice comprises a latch member 42 which is mounted for vertical slidingmovement in a suitable slot 43 in the housing, and is biased to alatching position by means of a spring 44. The latch member 42 isprovided with a protruding portion 45 which engages a notch 43 in thecontact finger, to hold the latch in a retracted position when thefingeris in its normal operating position.

It will be apparent that, when the contact finger I9 is actuated asdescribed, the latch member 42 will be released and moved to its1atching position, in which position the protruding portion 45 willengage the upper end of the contact finger, to retain it in itsdisengaged position, as shown in dotted lines.

When the latchmember 42 is in this position, the upper end thereof,which is provided with sloping faces, is in a. position to be engaged byeither one of the contact pins I2 and I3 as the lamp is rotated withinthe holder, when removing it for replacement purposes. When either oneof the contact pins engage the upper end of the latch member, it isforced downwardly against the pressure of spring 44 in the notch portion43, so that the contact finger is released to its normal operatingPosition. When the lamp circuit has been interrupted a suicient lengthof time cooling of the bimetallic member 29 results, so that it returnsto its normal position; however, the heater 32 is not operativelyconnected in the series heating circuit for the lamp electrodes untilthe contact finger I9 is released by the latch member 45.

In view of the foregoing description of this embodiment o1' theinvention, it will be apparent that this device functions as asnap-acting switch, and eliminates the use of a separate switch forcontrolling the lamp circuit. In view of the fact that the lamp circuitis maintained open until the lamp is removed,`no current is consumed bythe heater during the time the deactivated lamp remains in the holder.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the manner in which my invention may be appliedto a lamp holder of a different type commonly known as astraightpushtype, as distinguished from the type shown in Figs. 1 and 2which is commonly referred to as the twist-turn type. This holderlikewise comprises a shell-type housing 5| of insulating material,provided with J-shaped slots 52 and 53 in ilzlaie face thereof, toreceive the lamp pins I2 and As shown, the housing 5I is mounted upon abase 54 which may be the socket or adapter for a starting switch (notshown). Mounted within the housing is a pair of contact fingers 55 and55, having their free ends so disposed with respect to the ends of theJ-shaped slots that they are engaged by the lamp pins when they areinserted into the holder. 4

In the particular holder illustrated, the contact fingers 55 and 56 areof unequal stiffness. Contact finger 59 is the stiffer or stronger nger.and has a bent-over end portion 51 which is engaged by the lamp pin I3as it travels down the slot 52. The shape of this end portion is suchthat this contact finger is first urged to the left, and then moved tothe right as it forces the pin I3 into the end of the slot in its normalposition, shown in Fig. 3.

The contact finger 55 is more slender and,

therefore, of lesser stiffness than the contact finger 55, and has itsfree end 58 normally positioned over the end of the slot 53, so that thecontact pin I2 merely engages the finger and urges it sidewise, so as tosubject the finger to a slight tension.

In this embodiment of the invention. the latching device, showngenerally at Il, functions both as a latch and a fulcrum for the fingerIl. Ihe latching device comprises a latch member Il in the form oi anelongated bar slidably disposed within an inclined slot Il in the ribportion O2 of the housing. The latch member is provided at its lower endwith a notch 12 which engages a lug or locking portion il on the contactfinger Il. This engagement of the nnger with the latch member provides afulcrum or pivot point for the contact finger ll when it is urgedsidewise by its associated lamp pin I2.

In order to provide for releasing the latch member Il in response to anabnormal circuit condition, a bimetallic member M is mounted within thebase portion of the housing, as shown, and is so positioned with respectto the latch member that it may function to actuate it through the pint5, which is mounted in sliding relation in a suitable vertical slotinthe rib portion I2. The bimetallic member M is actuated by means of asuitable heater element Il which is positioned adjacent thereto, asshown, and connected in series circuit relation with the contact fingerBl, through the terminal nut 81, connector Il, resistance II, connectorIl and contact stud l! which engages the mounting portion of the fingerIt. The lower threaded end of stud I! is screwed into an insulator block1I which is provided at its lower end with a threaded portion 10' toreceive the terminal nut Il. 'I'he mounting portion of the other fingerBl is connected in the circuit, through the terminal screw 1|. Thisscrew also functions t0 attach the housing ll to the base member 54.

When the current through the lamp circuit becomes excessive, thebimetallic member functions to actuate the latch member 8l, so as todisengage the notch portion thereof from the finger l5. This permits thefinger to move sidewise (to the right as shown in Fig. 4) out o1'engagement with its associated contact pin I2, and thereby interruptsthe lamp circuit.

In this instance, the latch member I is reset to its normal positionthrough the sidewise movement of the other contact nger M, such asresults when the lamp pins are rotated and moved upwardly out of theJ-shaped slots. This movement actuates the contact finger il sidewise(to the left) to the position shown in dotted lines, and thereby urgesthe latch member Il downwardly into latching position, where it againfunctions to hold the contact finger l5 in its proper contact-makingposition.

The released or unlatched positions of the various parts of the holderare shown in Fig. 4. This shows that the latch member l., when released,engages the flat surface of the contact linger li while it is still inits normal operating position so that, as soon as this finger is movedsidewise by the pin I3, the latch member is moved downwardly.

While I have shown and described my invention as it may be applied tolamp holders oi' two different types, it is apparent that it may beapplied to a lamp holder of any type embodying contact fingers which maybe moved out of' and into engagement with the associated contact pins ofthe lamp. This device functions to positively protect the starting andoperating circuit of the lamp, without the use of Vadditional protectiveequipment. Any suitable type of device may be utilized to actuate themovable 'contact finger as in Fig. 1, or the movable latch as in Fig. 3,so long as it functions in response to the excessive current drawn bythe lamp. when attempting to operate under abnormal conditions.

While I have disclosed specific and practical embodiments of myinvention. itl will be apparent that various changes and modificationsmay be made therein, without departing from the principles of theinvention as disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A connector device comprising, a. housing, a pair of contact lingersmounted in spaced relation within the housing to be engaged by spacedcontact pins of a device to be connected in a circuit, one of saidcontact fingers having a normal operating position where it isengaged byits associated contact pin and being movable out of engagement therewithto interrupt the circuit to said device, and current-responsive meansoperatively associated with said one contact finger for eifectingmovement thereof to its disengaged position.

2. A holder for double-ended electric discharge devices comprising, ahousing containing a pair of contact fingers disposed to be engaged bythe contact pins of the device, and currentresponsive means operativelyconnected with one of said contact fingers for'actuating said finger outof engagement with its associated contact pin.

3. A holder for double-ended electric discharge devices comprising, ahousing containing a pair of contact fingers disposed to be engaged bythe contact pins of the device, and thermalresponsive means mountedwithin the housing operable to effect disengagement of one of saidcontact fingers from its associated contact pin in response topredetermined current flow in the energzing circuit of the dischargedevice.

4. A lamp holder for use with electric discharge lamps having contactpins at the ends thereof comprising, a. housing, a.- pair of contactmembers mounted within the housing disposed to be engaged by the lamppins, one of said contact members being mounted for movement rela.- tiveto its associated contact pin, and currentresponsive means mountedwithin the housing operable to actuate said movably-mounted contactmember out of engagement with its associated contact pin to interruptlthe lamp circuit.

5. In a holder for electric discharge devices having contact pins at theends thereof, a housing, a pair of contact members mounted in thehousing in spaced relation to receive the contact pins of the dischargedevice when inserted therein, and current-responsive means connected toone of said contact members and operable to actuate said contact memberout of engagement with its associated contact pin, thereby to interruptthe circuit through the discharge device in response to the flow ofabnormal energizing current.

6. A holder for double-ended electric discharge devices having a pair ofspaced contact pins at each end comprising, a housing, a pair of contactfingers mounted within the housing disposed to be engaged by the contactpins of the device, current-responsive means operatively connected withone of said contact fingers for actuating said finger out of engagementwith its associated contact pins, and latch means operable to retainsaid contact ilnger in its actuated position. t

7. A' holder for double-ended electric discharge devices having a pairof spaced contact pins at each end comprising, a housing, a pair ofcontact iingers mounted within the housing disposed to be engaged by thecontact pins of the device, current-responsive means operativelyconnected with one of said contact fingers for actuating said nger outof engagement with its associated contact pins, and spring-biased latchmeans operable from a normal position in response to the movement oisaid actuated contact iinger for retaining said contact finger in itsactuated position, said latch means being operable to its normalposition to release said contact finger in response to a predeterminedmovement of one of the contact pins of the device within the housing.

8. A holder for double-ended electric discharge devices having a pair ofspaced contact charge devices having a pair ci spaced contact pins ateach end thereof comprising, a housing, a pair of contact fingers Withinthe housing disposed to be engaged by the contact pins oi the device,one of said contact fingers being pivotally mounted whereby the contactmaking end thereof may be actuated out of engagement With its associatedcontact pin, and currentresponsive actuating means operatively connectedto the opposite end of said contact nnger for effecting pivotal movementof said contact finger.

10. A holder for double-ended electric discharge devices having a pairof spaced contact pins at each end thereof comprising, a housing, a pairof contact fingers within the housing disposed to be engaged by thecontact pins of the device, one of said contact fingers being pivotallymounted intermediate its ends whereby the contact making end of thefinger may be actuated out of engagement with its associated contactpin, thermal means operatively connected with the opposite end of saidnger normally functioning toI hold said finger in contact makingposition and operable in response to l.predetermined current iiow in theenergizing circuit of the device to actuate the finger to move thecontact making end thereof out of engagement with its associated contactpin.

1l. A holder for double-ended electric discharge devices -having a pairof spaced contact pins at each end thereof comp-rising, a housing, apair of contact lingers within the housing disposed to be engaged by the.contact pins of the device, one of said contact fingers being mountedfor movement out of engagement with its associated contact pin, andcurrent-responsive means operatively connected to said one contactfinger for actuating said finger out of engagement with its associatedcontact pin and latch means operable in response to the movement of saidfinger for retaining the finger in its actuated position.

12. A holder for double-ended electric discharge devices and ,the likehaving a pair of spaced contact pins at the opposite ends thereofcomprising, a housing of insulating material,

aseaice a pair of elongated resilient contact members mounted therein inspaced relation to be engaged, 'by the contact pins of the device wheninserted into the holder, one of said contact members being rigidlymounted within the housing and the other of said contact members be ingmounted for tilting movement about a fulcrum portion on the inside ofthe housing whereby the upper contact making end of said contact membermay be actuated out of engagement with its associated contact pin, abimetallic device mounted within the housing adjacent the lower end ofsaid contact member and operatively connected thereto, said bimetallicdevice having a normal operating position such as to retain said contactmember in its normal contact making position and an' operated positionsuch as to actuate said contact member out of engagement with itsassociated contact pin, and a heating element mounted adjacent thebimetallic device ancl connected in circuit relation with one of thecontact members of the holder, whereby said bimetallic device isactuated to its operated position in response to a. predeterminedcurrent flow.

13. A holder for double-ended electric discharge devices and the likehaving a pair of spaced contact pins at the opposite ends thereofcomprising, a housing of insulated material, a pair of elongatedresilient contact members mounted therein in spaced relation to beengaged by the contact pins of the device when inserted into the holder,one of said contact members being rigidly mounted within the housing andthe other of said contact members being mounted for tilting movementabout a fulcrum portion on the inside of the housing Whereby the uppercontact making end of said contact member may be actuated out ofengagement with its associated contact pin, a bimetallic device mountedwithin the' housing adjacent the lower end of said contact member andoperatively connected thereto, said bimetallic device having a normaloperating position such as to retain said contact member in its normalcontact making position and an operated position such as to actuate saidcontact member out of engagement with its associated contact pin, aheating element mounted adjacent the bimetallic device and connected incircuit relation with one of the contact members of the holder, Wherebysaid bimetallic device is actuated to its operated position in responseto a predetermined current ow, and a spring-biased latch member mountedadjacent the movable contact member operable in response to the movementthereof to its disengaged position to releasably hold said contactmember in said disengaged posiion.

14. A holder for double-ended electric discharge devices having contactpins at the ends thereof comprising, a housing, a pair of contactsprings within the housing disposed to receive the contact pins of thelamp, one of said contact fingers being retained in normal contactmaking position by releasable latch means and biased to disengage itsassociated contact pin upon being the contact pins of the lamp, one ofsaid contact fingers being retained vin normal contact making positionby releasable latch means and biased to disengage its associated contactpin upon being released by said latch means, and

current-responsive means operable to effect actu- `ing, a housingofinsulating material. a pair of contact fingers mounted Within thehousing and having their free ends spaced to receive the contact pins ofthe lamp when inserted into the holder, a movable latch member slidablymounted within the housing and having a normal position retaining one ofthe contact fingers in contact making position and operable to releasesaid one contact finger to a noncontact making position, andcurrent-responsive means operable to actuate the latch member to areleased position in response to a predetermined flow of current throughone of the contact ngers, said latch member when in its releasedposition having one end thereof in engagement with the other contactfinger, whereby the movement of said other contact ilnger resulting froma predetermined movement of the lamp Pins within the holder returns thelatch member to its normal position.

17.- A holder for double-ended electric discharge devices having contactpins at the ends thereof comprising, a housing lof insulating materialhaving a pair of contact fingers mounted to predetermined currentiiovirL through one of said contact ngers, said latch means beingdisposed for actuation to a reset position by the movement' of saidother contact nger resulting from predetermined movement of itsassociated .therein with their free ends disposed for engagement by thecontact pins of the discharge device when inserted in the holder, one ofsaid contact fingers being normally biased to a position where it willnot engage its associated contact pin, a latch member slidably mountedin the housing between said contact ngers, one end of. said latch membernormally engaging said one contact finger to retain it in contact makingposition, a bimetallic member for actuating said latch member to releaseits associated contact/finger, and a heater element for said bimetallicmember connected in circuit relation with one of the contact iingers.

19. A holder for double-ended electric discharge devices having contactpins at the ends thereof comprising, a housing of insulating materialhaving a pair of contact fingers mounted therein with their free endsdisposed for engagement by the contact pins of the discharge dcvice wheninserted in the holder, lone of said contact fingers being normallybiased to a position where it will not engage its associated contactpin, a latch member slidably mounted within the housing in an inclinedslot between the contact fingers and having its opposite ends positionedadjacent said contact fingers, the lower end of said latch member being,notched to engage a protruding portion on said one contact finger,whereby said latch member normally functions'to retain said one contactfinger in contact making position, and is movable in said slot todisengage said one contact finger and engage the other contact linger,and means for actuating said latch member from its normal positionincluding an actuating pin connected to a bimetallic member and a heaterfor said bimetallic member connected in'series circuit relation with oneof the contact fingers.

' ALFRED H. LAIDIG.

